California Rodeo Traditions

Published on: February 12, 2018

As the California Rodeo season goes full throttle, looking back at its past offers interesting insights into how we got here today. First, let’s just say there are more than 100 rodeos each year in the state. And unlike the swipe some folks (who’ve never been on a ranch or farm) like to take, these Western events are rooted in all thing great. Here’s more about how rodeos in California got their start:

The rodeo was originally a working event.

In 1851 rodeos gained legal status in California as prescribed: Every owner of a stock farm shall be obliged to give, yearly, one general Rodeo, within the limits of his farm…in order that parties interested may meet, for the purpose of separating their respective cattle.

What made the occasion remarkable was the astounding horsemanship of vaqueros. After quickly collecting their cattle, they began showing their stuff — creating a sensation!